Week 29 Player Picks: Death of the Troll King

Week 29 brings us back to a full selection of fixtures but it’s one of those week where there may be more questions than answers in the attacking positions.

Joel Robles

3 clean sheets in 4 games and hosting a Hull City side who have lost 11 of their last 12 away games.

Wayne Hennersey

Your cheap keeper choice in Fantrax and one who has 2 clean sheets on the spin. Home to Watford has a shot of it becoming 3 in a row.

Seamus Coleman

In fine form the raiding right back from a couple of years ago is back. Coleman has form and fixture on his side and is a player to bring in your FPL side if you can. In Fantrax even at his price he can be good value this week.

Aaron Cresswell

At 3.64m he is pretty much filler price in Fantrax. We haven’t seen the points return we saw last year but at that price he will be low risk for potential high reward.

Toby Alderweireld

I’m not sure whether it’s the lack of blistering pace, wonderful to watch passing from the back or what but he never seems to get rave reviews as a player. For me though he is so consistent at making the right choices in game position and when to get tight/physical. As a fantasy manager we know he as a set piece danger and goal scorer.

No goals in 19 game is a surprise but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him break his EPL duck against his old club would it?

Alfie Mawson

Little expensive in Fantrax, still value in FPL. It’s now 4 goals in 9 games a goal return ratio you would love as an attacking player.

Byron Oviedo

Oviedo has been a great fantasy player for me the weeks I have gambled on him in Yahoo/Fantrax. At under 3m he faces a side that even Sunderland may dominate possession against. Oviedo is better in an attacking role and I think he could be a nice sneaky pick this week.

Yohan Cabaye

2 assists in 2 although he was subbed in both something I hate to see. I assume he has penalties and he scored in the reverse fixture on Boxing Day. Priced just right in Fantrax If I feel like doing something different.

Ross Barkley

I tipped him to be a breakthrough player this season under the shrewd management of Ronald Koemann. He hasn’t fulfilled the prediction on the whole but is in a purple patch of form and at the heart of many of the Everton attacks. Great value this week in all Fantasy formats.

Christian Eriksen/Dele Alli/Son

Spurs ripped Millwall apart in the FA Cup and continue to look a young side processing. The injury to Harry Kane can’t be a good thing but it’s a team sport and this trio are in a great form.

David Silva

Early season Kevin De Bruyne looked like he could run the City side for the season ahead. Now it’s the wise and calm play of Silva that looks City’s sharpest weapon. He is starting to add goals to his form and how Liverpool deal with him will be crucial to them achieving points. Expensive in FPL I like him in Fantrax as a great alternative option.

Sadio Mane

As ever against the Manchester City high defensive line I like any opposing forward who has pace and can time his runs. Mane will also press the ever error prone John Stones down in possession as the start of the Liverpool pressing game. Finally his record shows you he is a big match goal scorer and surely will get chances in what should be an open game.

Siggy

Perhaps there is no better form horse in fantasy football right now. In his last 9 games he has scored 3 times and provided 6 assists. In his last 6 games he has fired in 22 attempts on goal. Our man heads to Bournemouth where they have conceded at least twice in their last 6 home matches!

In FPL a must in Fantrax he could be overprice but he is super consistent.

Joshua King

In my very up and down FP season I made the right move in week 28 by bringing in King for the disappointing Junior Stanislas. In the week 27 fixture he bullied the Manchester United central defenders on the day (Marcus Rojo and Phil Jones) about and is playing with plenty of self-belief. A hat trick was my reward and I see no reason not to tip him once more this week.

It’s now 8 goals in 6 games for the Cherries marksman. In that 6 game run he has had 21 shots on goal. Week 29 sees him face a Swansea City side who have lost 3 in a row away from home and conceded 2 or more in their last 8 games on the road. Such a shame he may have lost penalty duties.

In FPL still fantastic value for a 5th midfield player.

Romelu Lukaku

The Troll King no longer, there I said it. Currently top Premier League goalscorer and with Harry Kane injured and Kun facing Champions League distractions he is a warm favorite to end the season the golden boot winner. I actually think Hull may prefer playing against his physical approach but then I thought that about WBA in week 28.

Perhaps the news that he may not be signing a new deal at Everton in preparation for a summer move will worry you. A must in FPL and a captain choice, in Fantrax and at 19m I think there may be other options.

Jermain Defoe

Sometimes in sport you see individuals who are past their best years and yet continue to play as if 10 years younger, Defoe is one of those. He is clearly hunger, driven, in great shape and at times extremely self-interested with his in game decision.

Sunderland have failed to score in 5 of their last 6 but there may be few better goal hungry forwards in the league and here he faces a Burnley side winless away from home. They have lost 9 of the last 10 always and in 14 away games this season they have conceded 30 goals. If Sunderland wish to stay up this really is must win and the Black Cats have managed to win the must win games late in the season over the last few years. Defoe remains the obvious man to profit as the summer transfer rumours start.

Manolo Gabbiadini

Brilliant in the cup final, brilliant in every game since joining Southampton and a great price in both FPL and Fantrax.

Facing the a Tottenham side who have conceded just 7 times at home this season he won’t tempt many but as long as Mauricio Pochettino is manager this one means a little more to the Saints fans and pressure free I think they can test a tough Spurs side.

Sergio Aguero

His manager had a dig about the movement of his forward/s last week and long term he simply doesn’t have to game style to play Peps way. For now though its marriage of convenience and no matter the tactical questions there is no more ruthless a finisher than Kun.

His manager had a dig about the movement of his forward/s last week and long term he simply doesn’t have to game style to play Peps way. For now though its marriage of convenience and no matter the tactical questions there is no more ruthless a finisher than Kun.

Never, ever certain to play but you have to say it’s very likely he does if fit for Sundays big game. City slim title hopes will probably need them to win all of their remaining games. That looks very unlikely to me but the bigger story in this game is the battle for top 4 and Champions League football. 5 points separates them from Arsenal in 5th and Manchester United sit a point further back in 6th. Both chasing sides have a game in hand on City and 2 on Liverpool.

City will see this as a chance to create breathing space over the Reds, while the chasing two perhaps will hope Liverpool lose. The Reds have improved defensively since Joel Matip settled but still give teams too much space in the final third. City will score in this one and I think more than once. If I’m correct then an armband on Kun is tempting.

Jordan Ayew

Fernando Llorente was withdrawn midway through the last league game making him a doubt this week. Should he miss out, Ayew may find himself in the starting 11. He will cost you just 1m in Fantrax!

Alexis Sanchez

No his stats are not up to his great level and yes he wants to go but how can we not think about Alexis. Sanchez clearly expects more from his teammates and while he needs to learn to express that as an adult his best way of getting through to them is by setting the example.

Sanchez is one of those who want to play every minute of every week. He has had more joy on the road and while Arsenals are in terrible form he remains one of those players who can explode in any game week.

Stall